Buzz
Choosing just 20 was tough. Comedy is something Jews naturally excel at. I once asked Jon Lovitz, one of the many comedians excluded from this list, why Jews dominate the comedy scene, despite representing only 2% of the U.S. population and a mere 0.227% of the global population. He replied, "To be funny, you have to suffer, suffer, suffer. Jews, blacks, we’ve endured a lot through history. That’s what makes us funny, I guess."
1. Jon Stewart
Born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, Jon Stewart, America's leading political satirist, is also an avid crossword puzzle fan. He even proposed to his wife—who is a shicksa (a Yiddish term for a non-Jewish woman)—by creating a custom puzzle with help from the crossword editor at The New York Times. Guess being a talk show host has its perks!
Jon Stewart on how his wife's Catholicism complements his Judaism: "We're raising the children to be sad."
2. Groucho Marx
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesJulius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho, the most iconic of the Marx brothers, is instantly recognizable for his signature thick greasepaint mustache, which has been spoofed endlessly in film and television. Legend has it that the mustache came about during a vaudeville show when Groucho didn’t have time to apply a fake one, so he simply grew his own before hosting You Bet Your Life, a look he maintained for the rest of his life.
Groucho's response when his daughter was denied access to a country club pool (Jews were typically excluded from most country clubs at the time): "But my daughter's only half-Jewish. Can she go in up to her waist?"
3. Billy Crystal
A die-hard Yankees fan, Billy Crystal made headlines when he signed a one-day minor league contract with the team in March 2008 and played in a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though he struck out in his only at-bat, he did manage to foul off a few fastballs. Do you think his teammates gave him tsuris (Yiddish for trouble) for wearing a Mets cap in City Slickers?
Billy Crystal on being Jewish: "I'm comfortable being old... being black... being Jewish."
4. Adam Sandler
The plot of You Don't Mess with the Zohan, which follows a former Israeli assassin who fakes his death to become a hairdresser, is one Adam Sandler is very familiar with. The character was loosely inspired by a hairstylist and former Israeli soldier Sandler once knew. (Want to hear Sandler sing in Hebrew? Check out our post here to listen to his rendition of "Hine Ma Tov.")
Despite Adam Sandler being a vocal supporter of Israel, and despite You Don't Mess with the Zohan being set in Israel, very little of the film was actually shot there. Only one exterior shot was filmed in Tel Aviv, and when Sandler appeared in the scene, it was filmed in Mexico.
5. Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason, known for his blunt and controversial comedy, was born Yacov Moshe Maza. He became infamous after an incident in 1964 when he was banned from The Ed Sullivan Show for allegedly giving the host the finger during a live broadcast. At the time, Sullivan's show was the most popular TV program, and it took Mason nearly a decade to bounce back from the scandal.
Jackie Mason on being Jewish: "I am as Jewish as a matzo ball or kosher salami."
6. Sarah Silverman
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Trevor ProjectSome call her the female Lenny Bruce, but to those who know her well, she’s simply Sarah. Silverman was let go via fax after just one year as a writer/performer on
Sarah Silverman on her religion: "I have no religion. But culturally I can't escape it; I'm very Jewish."
7. Jerry Seinfeld
The mastermind behind America's most beloved sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld is also a passionate car collector. He boasts one of the largest Porsche collections in the world and even rents out a hangar at the Santa Monica Airport to store some of his prized cars. While money may not guarantee happiness, it can certainly help with the ever-increasing gas prices.
Jerry Seinfeld on what he would call himself if he changed his Jewish-sounding name: "Well, I would keep my last name, so as not to offend my parents and I would have to go with Jesus."
8. Larry David
To Seinfeld fans, he’s known as the voice of George Steinbrenner, but to viewers of Curb Your Enthusiasm, he’s simply Larry—neurotic, self-centered, and somewhat misanthropic. The popularity of his show has even led to the term "Larry David moment," describing a situation where someone unknowingly creates social discomfort.
Larry David on being a self-loathing Jew: "Hey, I may loathe myself, but it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm Jewish."
9. Sacha Baron Cohen
A Cambridge University graduate, Sacha Baron Cohen wrote his thesis on Jewish involvement in the American Civil Rights movement. He often contrasts his Jewish heritage with his Borat character, a bigoted reporter from Kazakhstan. For example, in the film Borat, the character doesn’t speak Kazakh as assumed, but rather Hebrew, a language Cohen is fluent in.
If I were a rich man: He performed in a stage production of Fiddler on the Roof while studying at Cambridge.
10. Mel Brooks
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty ImagesLike Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, born Melvin Kaminsky, began his career as a comedy writer for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows. He later transitioned to filmmaking, where he wrote, directed, and starred in some of the most iconic comedies of the past fifty years, including the 1981 classic History of the World Part I, which gave us the unexpected dance anthem, "It's Good to Be King."
3 Reichs and you're out: His directorial debut, 1968's The Producers, is centered around the creation of a play called "Springtime for Hitler."
11. Lenny Bruce
The most controversial comic of his time, Lenny Bruce, tackled a range of taboo topics, often pushing boundaries with his material. Born Leonard Alfred Schneider, Bruce was constantly surrounded by scandal and was arrested multiple times on obscenity charges throughout his career. By the time of his drug overdose death in 1966, Bruce had been banned from almost every nightclub in the country. However, his legacy has experienced a revival, and in 2003, he became the first person in New York history to receive a posthumous pardon.
Lenny Bruce on being Jewish and living in New York: "If you live in New York, you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you're going to be goyish even if you're Jewish."
12. George Burns
At the age of 79, George Burns, born Nathan Birnbaum, experienced a career revival that few performers ever get to enjoy. He won an Oscar in 1975 for Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys and went on to star in Oh God! in 1977. Despite not having acted in a film since 1939, Neil Simon insisted on casting a Jewish comedian for the role, a choice that proved to be a huge success.
Shame, shame, shame: His 1926 marriage to Gracie Allen, an Irish Catholic, was seen as audacious at the time and had to be kept secret.
13. Gilda Radner
Originally from Detroit, Gilda Radner rose to fame as one of the first "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live. Over her five years on the show, she brought to life iconic characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna, Baba Wawa, and Rhonda Weiss, the "Jewish American Princess." While details were kept under wraps, Radner had a short affair with her SNL co-star Bill Murray, a romance that she later discussed in her memoir, It's Always Something.
Gilda Radner as Rhonda Weiss: "You don't have to be Jewish to wear Jewess Jeans. But it wouldn't hurt."
14. Bette Midler
Central Press/Getty ImagesBette Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she was one of the few Jewish girls in a predominantly Asian neighborhood. At the age of 20, she moved to New York, where she would land the role of Tzeitel in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. Midler's acting career flourished further with standout roles in films like Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Ruthless People.
Bette Midler on childhood: "I grew up an ugly, fat little Jewish girl with problems."
15. Moe Howard
Moe Howard, born Moses Harry Horwitz, became famous as the iconic, helmet-haired member of the legendary slapstick comedy trio. His distinct bowl-cut hairstyle came about during his childhood when he impulsively cut off his curls. Without Moe's trademark look, the Stooges would never have been the Stooges we know and love today.
N'yuck, N'yuck, N'yuck: His favorite Stooges movie, You Nazty Spy!, was one of several satirical anti-Nazi films they made during the 1940s.
16. Seth Rogen
At just 16 years old, Seth Rogen secured a supporting role on Judd Apatow's short-lived series Freaks and Geeks, marking the beginning of a long professional partnership between the two. This relationship has resulted in Rogen appearing in nearly every Apatow-produced film since. There's even speculation that Rogen will play Curly Howard in the forthcoming Three Stooges film, though interestingly, Judd Apatow isn't involved in this project.
Seth's character in the 2005 film, The 40 Year Old Virgin: "I touched a guy's balls at Hebrew school once."
17. Andy Samberg
Andy Samberg, whose full name is David Andrew, has mentioned Mel Brooks as a key influence on his decision to pursue comedy. In 2005, shortly after joining the cast of Saturday Night Live, his hip-hop parody 'Lazy Sunday' became a viral hit, setting the stage for his digital shorts to become a hallmark of the show.
Andy Samberg on his Judaism: "I'm going home for Passover, but I don't really go balls out with it."
18. Peter Sellers
Best known for his portrayal of Chief Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films, Peter Sellers, born Richard Henry Sellers, was also a virtuoso of character acting. He played three distinct roles in the dark comedy Dr. Strangelove, and was set to take on a fourth as Air Force Major T.J. "King" Kong. However, he ultimately stepped down from the role after struggling to master the character's Texan accent.
But was he kosher? Although Sellers was of Jewish descent, he controversially defended Leni Riefenstahl, the director favored by Hitler, and even endorsed her documentary Triumph of the Will about the dictator.
19. Woody Allen
Born Allen Stewart Konigsberg, the comedic genius began crafting jokes for Sid Caesar at just 15 years old. He later won a $5 million lawsuit against American Apparel, after the company used an image of him dressed as a Hasidic Jew from his 1977 film Annie Hall in billboards and online ads.
Woody Allen on the three things all Jewish people worship: "God, Chinese food and wall-to-wall carpeting."
20. Howard Stern
The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" has built his career on pushing the limits, often by featuring strippers and midgets, setting a new standard for radio shock jocks. Since his move to Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006, Stern has become the highest-paid radio personality in America, earning a spot on Time magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People. Despite both parents being Jewish, Stern often humorously claims he is "half-Jewish"—with the other half being Italian.
Stern on why he tells people he's half Jewish: "It's incredibly difficult to be Jewish in this country. My half-Jewish side has been beaten with chains."
